Tibet to restore peak season tourist prices

Tourism authority statistics show that tourist arrivals in Tibet hit nearly 2.25 million in 2008, generating revenue of 2.259billion yuan, down 44.4 percent and 53.4 percent respectively from those of 2007.

As the busy season is coming, main tourist attractions in Tibet will gradually return to the normal ticket prices, according to Wang Songping, vice director with the tourism administration.

Jokhang Temple restored the 80-yuan price from 35 yuan Wednesday, but the Potala Palace still maintained the off-season price of 100 yuan, only half of the normal price.

In a bid to protect one of the city's iconic images, the government of Lhasa has set a height limit of 15 meters to constructions within a radius of 2 kilometers of the Potala Palace, to ensure that the view of the famous tourist attraction would not be blocked, according to a new layout of Lhasa, capital of Tibet.

Those buildings higher than the new standard will either be dismantled or cut short, according to the plan governing city construction for 2009 to 2020. The layout was ratified by the State Council last month.

Editor:Zhang Ning